“According to the World Bank forecasts, in the coming 20 years, taken even in normal oil prices, Azerbaijan will receive 140 billion dollars. We want to transform this capital to human capital, increase investments in education, and gain good health service and reach the accomplishments that European countries attained”, told President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev at the first sitting titled “The Balkans and Black Sea region as litmus paper for Europe” arranged in the frame of the International Bertelsmann Forum- 2006 in Berlin.

President Ilham Aliyev, speaking of energy strategy of Europe, has said: “ Unfortunately, we don’t see a common policy here. In Europe, everybody has in mind his interests. Azerbaijan has made long efforts to be involved to the oil policy of the European Union. Only after the last winter events happened, we get certain proposals, which show the EU’s interest to us. We have nice potential for cooperation in oil-gas field. Azerbaijan becomes an only new alternative source to export gas to Europe. It is because all other alternatives already function. Of course, this raises importance of our country, region. Azerbaijan, Georgia, Turkey and European countries have been involved in a large project and this will make the region more stable and secure’.